Leaders Unite at Digital Leaders CIO Roundtable 2024 for Growth

Karachi, December 14, 2024 — Organized by Digital Leaders, the CIO Roundtable 2024 brought together Pakistan’s leading Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and technology heads to discuss key challenges and opportunities in driving the nation’s digital transformation. This event, a cornerstone in advancing the Pakistan 2025 Vision, underscored the pivotal role of IT leaders in fostering innovation, strengthening cybersecurity, and addressing workforce development.

The event commenced with opening remarks by Ms. Ashifa Paracha, Founder of Digital Leaders. She emphasized the critical contributions of CIOs in accelerating Pakistan’s digital growth and ensuring its competitive standing on the global stage.

The session featured Mr. Ijlal Jafri, Group CIO at Martin Dow Ltd., as the moderator. In his keynote address, Mr. Jafri set the tone for the discussions, focusing on collaboration, innovation, and actionable solutions to navigate the challenges of an evolving technological landscape.

Participants engaged in insightful discussions addressing pressing industry concerns and emerging opportunities under the following themes:

• Cybersecurity: Protecting Pakistan’s digital infrastructure amidst rising cyber threats.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Preparing organizations for seamless AI adoption and integration.
• Data Management & Governance: Implementing frameworks for improved decision-making and regulatory compliance.
• Workforce Management: Overcoming IT talent shortages and enhancing upskilling initiatives.
• Rapid Technology Changes: Equipping CIOs to lead in an ever-changing technological environment.

The event featured prominent IT leaders from Pakistan’s top organizations across diverse industries, including:

1. Azhar Nawaz, Group CIO — Engro Corp
2. Ammar Shareef, CIO — Keenu
3. Arif Sheikh, CIO — Progatix
4. Asad Zaidi, GM IT — Pakistan Cables
5. Ashfaque Ahmed, CIO — Bank Islami
6. Faisal Amir, CIO — PARCO
7. Ijlal Jafri, Group CIO (MC) — Martin Dow
8. Muhammad Munaf, CIO — Artistic Fabric Mills
9. Omair Bokhari, Head of IT — Fatima Group Ltd.
10. Raza Abbas, Head of IT — Uni Lever
11. Rehan Qadri, CIO — Khaadi Corporation
12. Shakeel Akhter, CIO — Indus Hospital
13. Syed Anwer, EVP – Head of IT — JS Investment
14. Syed M. Ali Naqvi, CTO – SEVP — Raqam Digital Bank
15. Tanveer Saleem, CIO — United Energy Pakistan
16. Waqas Ahmed, CIO — Feroze1888 Mills Ltd.

Key Insights and Takeaways

The discussions provided a comprehensive exploration of current trends, challenges, and opportunities in Pakistan’s IT landscape. Key takeaways included:

• The urgent need for robust cybersecurity frameworks to safeguard critical digital infrastructure.
• The importance of AI adoption to enhance organizational efficiency and innovation.
• Strategies to bridge the IT skills gap through focused upskilling and talent development initiatives.
• Collaborative approaches to address the pace of technological change in Pakistan’s evolving digital economy.

The event was part of +92Disrupt organized by Katalyst Labs and was concluded with a summary of insights and actionable recommendations. A key outcome of the roundtable was a commitment to drafting a white paper outlining strategic steps to achieve Pakistan’s digital vision, offering a roadmap for policymakers, organizations, and industry leaders.

About Digital Leaders’ CIO Roundtable 2024

The CIO Roundtable 2024, organized by Digital Leaders, serves as a platform for Pakistan’s technology leaders to collaborate, share knowledge, and create actionable solutions to drive digital innovation. The event is a step toward realizing the Pakistan 2025 Vision and ensuring the country’s leadership in the global digital economy.